Top Picks at the Vancouver Latin American Film Fest

BLOG POST posted on Septembre 4, 2011 by dawn

There's still another week left in the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. 

Yesterday, I ended up watching the Venezuelan film Hermano, and it might just be the best dramatic feature I've seen this year. If you have the chance, check it out.

Below is a selection of my top picks from the festival, which I prepared for The Tyee last week. 

El Infierno (Hell)

A fictional take on the narco-culture of northern Mexico, this film is as hilarious as it is disturbing. The narrative follows Benny, a Mexico native deported from the United States to find himself slowly but steadily reeled into the world of drugs, money and guns. Released to critical acclaim in 2010, El Infierno is director Luis Estrada's latest film and stars Damián Alcázar, one of the most respected actors in Mexican cinema.

Thursday, Sept. 8, 9 p.m., Pacific Cinémathèque

Impunity

This difficult documentary delves into the horror that continues to mark Colombia today. Switching between official trials of members of the country's murderous paramilitary organizations and moving testimony from survivors and the families of victims of violence, Impunity casts a bright light into an often-ignored conflict that continues through to today. Co-directed by Colombian/Swiss filmmaker Juan José Lozano and Colombian journalist Hollman Morris, this film has stirred up much needed debate about one of the U.S.'s closest allies in the hemisphere and one of Canada's free-trade partners.

Sunday, Sept. 11, 3:30 p.m. Pacific Cinémathèque

Tambien la Lluvia (Even the Rain)

Set in Cochabamba, Bolivia during uprisings modelled after the well-known struggles against the privatization of water, Tambien la Lluvia is a fictionalized exploration of the privilege of big picture filmmaking in a turbulent environment. When the star of the shoot becomes involved in anti-government protests, the loyalties of the cast and crew area called into question, and play out on the big screen. Spain's official selection at the Academy Awards, the film stars Gael García Bernal, one of Mexico's best-known actors.

Saturday, Sept. 10, 1 p.m., Pacific Cinémathèque